MV Plastics: Introduction

The ice-strengthened vessel Plancius is an excellent vessels for polar expedition cruises in the Arctic and Antarctica.

Plancius was built in 1976 as an oceano- graphic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy and was named Hr. Ms. Tydeman. The ship sailed for the Dutch Navy until June 2004 when it was purchased by Oceanwide Expeditions. Plancius is a Dutch agged completely rebuilt and converted 116-passenger vessel complies with the latest SOLAS- regulations, classed by Lloyd’s Register in London. The name Plancius is a tribute to the prede- cessor of Oceanwide Expeditions (Plancius Foundation, 1981-1996), the rst cruise operator on a yearly base in Spitsbergen, offering voyages with a small cruise vessel named Plancius.

Plancius – the ‘basecamp’ for our activity program Oceanwide Expeditions offers an exploratory educational travel program in the polar regions spending as much time ashore as possible. Special interest activities are available on selected voyages: Kayaking, Hiking, Snowshoeing, Mountaineering, Field Camping, Ski Trekking, Polar Diving and Zodiac Cruising.